Kenny Perry has been exonerated of any wrongdoing following suggestions that the American may have infringed the rules during his play-off victory at the FBR Open in February. The 48-year-old, who narrowly missed out on becoming the oldest major winner in history at last month's Masters, met with tour officials yesterday, during the Players ­Championship here, to review television footage which showed him placing the head of a club in the rough behind his ball, after which the ball seemingly became more visible.

Rule 13–2 of the Rules of Golf states that a player is not allowed to improve "the position or lie of his ball". Mark Russell, a senior rules official with the PGA Tour, said he had "no problem whatsoever" with Perry's actions, adding that the footage was "inconclusive".

"During the course of the telecast of the FBR Open‚ we received no calls from viewers reporting a potential rules violation involving Kenny Perry. When a question was raised this week, several members of the tournament committee reviewed the videotape of Kenny Perry, and no evidence of any rules violation was found ... We will have no further comment on the matter,'' he said.